Napolitano to testify on immigration

2/5/13 12:50 PM EST

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing on the proposed comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system next Wednesday.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will testify at the hearing, which comes the morning after President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

A bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Eight” rolled out a series of principles last month to overhaul the immigration system, featuring a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants tied to improvements in border security. The group expects to have a bill filed by early March and are hopeful the Senate could vote in the spring or early summer.

The House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on the issue Tuesday morning. House Speaker John Boehner has said the House will review what the Senate passes but has not endorsed the proposal.